For the athletes of Holden Youth Soccer’s Unified Team, the 2026 Special Olympics USA Games were about far more than bringing home a bronze medal.

After qualifying by winning its division at the 2024 Special Olympics Massachusetts State Cup, Holden represented Massachusetts at the Special Olympics USA Games in Minneapolis from June 20-26. Facing some of the nation’s top Unified soccer teams, the squad earned a bronze medal in Division 2 while creating memories that players, coaches and families say will last a lifetime.

Preparation for the national stage began months before the opening ceremony.

The team took part in a training weekend in Marlborough designed to help athletes adjust to the challenges of travel, staying in unfamiliar places and building relationships with fellow Special Olympics Massachusetts competitors. They also competed in a tournament in Connecticut and played a scrimmage against a Holden Unified alumni team on Holden’s new turf field to prepare for the intensity of national competition.

Team Massachusetts sent a 94-member delegation to Minnesota to compete in 11 sports, returning home with medals across several events, including gold in Unified flag football, golf, swimming, and powerlifting.

For Holden Unified Soccer, however, the week quickly became about much more than the competition itself.

The team stayed in dormitories at the University of Minnesota, giving many athletes their first taste of college life. Shortly after arriving, the players searched for a place to watch the U.S. Men’s National Team and stumbled upon what head coach Jon-Paul St. Germain described as a hidden “man cave” tucked beneath campus.

Known as “The Gopher Hole,” the recreation space featured televisions, pool tables and foosball, quickly becoming the team’s favorite gathering place between competitions.

The team’s beloved mascot, Jerry the Owl, also became something of a celebrity during the Games, even appearing on television during the Unified flag football gold medal game. Jerry’s popularity inspired a special commemorative trading pin that quickly became one of the team’s favorite keepsakes.

Beyond the games and ceremonies, it was the relationships formed throughout the week that left the greatest impression.

St. Germain recalled watching player Will Peterson, who is largely nonverbal, confidently interacting with athletes from other sports while spending time in The Gopher Hole.

“He was thriving,” St. Germain said.

For Remy St. Germain, watching Peterson embrace the experience became one of the week’s defining moments.

“My most memorable moment was seeing Will Peterson, who has been in the HYS [Holden Youth Soccer] Unified program since its beginning in 2018, showcase what Holden and Massachusetts is all about,” he said. “Seeing roughly eight years of work and development rewarded by the opportunity to compete in a national competition was special to witness … and few deserved that more than Will.”

The friendships formed in Minnesota reflected the spirit of Unified Sports, where inclusion extends far beyond the final score. That same sense of teamwork carried onto the field when competition began.

Holden opened tournament play with a hard-fought 1-0 loss to Nebraska before facing Northern California and Special Olympics District of Columbia to determine tournament placement.

After being placed in Division 2, Holden squared off against District of Columbia once again in a defensive battle that remained scoreless through regulation. Goalkeeper Mars Burke delivered several remarkable saves during a frantic stretch before the match was decided by penalty kicks.

Although the loss ended Holden’s hopes of competing for gold, it also produced one of the tournament’s most memorable displays of sportsmanship.

“As painful as it was, the two teams were arm in arm with each other celebrating each other together, which was really cool to see,” St. Germain said. “There was a lot of mutual respect for each other that made us coaches and all the parents really proud.”

The team responded in impressive fashion, defeating Nebraska 3-1 in the bronze medal match. Ben Walsh scored twice, while Liam Wise added another goal to secure Holden’s place on the podium.

“I’m really proud of the way the team played,” St. Germain said. “It was a really tough competition, and the team left it all out on the field.”

While the bronze medal marked an extraordinary accomplishment, players say the greatest reward came from sharing the experience together.

“My most memorable moment from Minnesota was having our team win bronze after playing so many talented and amazing teams,” athlete Chad Plouffe said. “We all worked so hard for that accomplishment.”

The experience also reinforced the team’s culture of support.

“Something I have learned about myself as a result of the USA Games is that I had support from my teammates and coaches and they were always there for me,” Plouffe said.

Those same lessons resonated with the athletes’ families.

“Seeing my son thrive and be celebrated for being completely himself — to see his hard work, determination, resilience, pride and joy fully recognized and on display was breathtaking,” said Jen Walsh, whose son Ben competed on the team.

She believes the week in Minnesota proved what can happen when athletes are given opportunities to succeed.

“My son is braver, stronger, more resilient and more capable than he or anyone else gives him credit for — he just needs to be in the right environment, with the right people — where inclusion is not just talked about but ingrained and lived” Walsh said. 

Looking back, St. Germain believes every athlete returned home with something more meaningful than a medal.

“All the athletes will walk away from the trip holding their heads a little higher and be more comfortable with self-advocating,” he said.

Weeks after returning from Minnesota, the bronze medals remain a tangible reminder of what the team accomplished on the national stage. But for the athletes, coaches and families, the week’s greatest reward cannot be measured by a podium finish. It lives in the confidence gained, friendships formed and the reminder that meaningful inclusion creates opportunities for everyone to grow.

As the team looks ahead to its fall season, St. Germain expressed his gratitude to Holden Parks & Recreation and Holden Youth Soccer for their continued support.

“The program would not be possible without the organizations’ commitment to providing opportunities for athletes of all abilities,” he said.

Coaches St. Germain and Steve Jaslowich invite new athletes and Unified partners of all skill levels—with and without developmental disabilities—to join the program. Those interested in participating may contact Jaslowich at [email protected] or St. Germain at [email protected]. W